The Advisory Committees

The advisory committees

The advisory committees

When preparing its decisions, the ASN asks for opinions and recommendations from Advisory Committees (GPE). Until 2009, it also relied on the Standing Nuclear Section of the French Central Committee for Pressure Vessels (CCAP). Seven Advisory Committees (GPE) have been created and report to the ASN Director-General.

The GPEs are consulted by ASN concerning the safety and radiation protection of installations and activities within their particular field of competence. They in particular review the preliminary, provisional and final safety analysis reports for each of the BNIs. They can also be consulted about changes in regulations or doctrine.

For each of the subjects covered, the GPEs examine the reports produced by IRSN, by a special working group or by one of the ASN departments. They issue an opinion backed up by recommendations.

The GPEs comprise experts nominated for their individual competence. They come from university and associative backgrounds, as well as from the licensees concerned by the subjects being dealt with. Each GPE may call on any person recognised for his or her particular competence. It may hold a hearing of licensee representatives. Participation by foreign experts can help diversify the approach to problems and take advantage of experience acquired internationally.

With the goal of improving nuclear safety and radiation protection transparency, ASN publishes the documents relating to the meetings of these GPEs: ASN referral of a particular subject to the GPE, summary of the IRSN report, GPE opinion and ASN stance.

The Advisory Committee for reactors (GPR)

The Advisory Committee for reactors is chaired by Philippe Saint-Raymond. It consists of experts nominated for their competence in the field of nuclear reactors.

The Advisory Committee for laboratories and plants (GPU)

The Advisory Committee for laboratories and plants is chaired by Jérôme Joly. It comprises experts nominated for their competence in the field of laboratories and plants in which radioactive materials are used.

The Advisory Committee for medical exposure (GPMED)

Chaired by Bernard Aubert, the GPMED comprises experts nominated for their competence in the field of radiation protection of health professionals, the public and patients and for medical applications of ionising radiations, including legal medicine.

The Advisory Committee for environment and radiation protection (non-medical) (GPRADE)

Chaired by Jean-Paul Samain, the GPRAD comprises experts nominated for their competence in the field of radiation protection of workers (other than health professionals) and radiation protection of the public, for industrial and research applications of ionising radiations, as well as for natural ionising radiations.

The Advisory Committee for waste (GPD)

The Advisory Committee for waste is chaired by Mr Pierre Bérest. It comprises experts nominated for their competence in the nuclear, geological and mining fields. In 2012, the GPD met three times, visited one installation and organised a bipartite meeting with its German counterpart.

The Advisory Committee for transport (GPT)

The Advisory Committee for Transport is chaired by Jérôme Joly. It comprises experts nominated for their competence in the field of transport, in particular representatives from the French committee for certification of companies in training and monitoring of personnel working with ionising radiations.

The Advisory Committee for nuclear pressure equipment (GPESPN)

Since mid-2009, the GPESPN has replaced the Standing Nuclear Section (SPN) of the CCAP. The GPESPN is chaired by Sophie Mourlon, and comprises experts nominated for their competence in the field of pressure equipment.

Date of last update : 25/09/2017

The French Nuclear Safety Authority is tasked, on behalf of the State, with regulating nuclear safety and radiation protection in order to protect workers, patients, the public and the environment from the risks involved in nuclear activities in France. It also contributes to informing the citizens.